322
Albums Rated
3.21
Average Rating
30%
Complete
767 albums remaining
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Taste Profile
2010s
Favorite Decade
Psychedelic-rock
Favorite Genre
US
Top Origin
Balanced
Rater Style
20
5-Star Albums
8
1-Star Albums
Taste Analysis
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Ratings by genre
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Ratings by country
Rating Style
You Love More Than Most
Albums you rated higher than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitte Orca | 5 | 2.69 | +2.31 |
| D.O.A. the Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle | 4 | 1.87 | +2.13 |
| Pretenders | 5 | 3.35 | +1.65 |
| Either Or | 5 | 3.38 | +1.62 |
| A Rush Of Blood To The Head | 5 | 3.44 | +1.56 |
| Illinois | 5 | 3.49 | +1.51 |
| Head Hunters | 5 | 3.56 | +1.44 |
| OK | 4 | 2.57 | +1.43 |
| Brothers | 5 | 3.58 | +1.42 |
| Maggot Brain | 5 | 3.6 | +1.4 |
You Love Less Than Most
Albums you rated lower than global average
| Album | You | Global | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Slim Shady LP | 1 | 3.29 | -2.29 |
| Rage Against The Machine | 2 | 4 | -2 |
| At Folsom Prison | 2 | 3.99 | -1.99 |
| Ghosteen | 1 | 2.97 | -1.97 |
| Tical | 1 | 2.94 | -1.94 |
| Exodus | 2 | 3.94 | -1.94 |
| I Against I | 1 | 2.93 | -1.93 |
| Roots | 1 | 2.78 | -1.78 |
| Dummy | 2 | 3.71 | -1.71 |
| Violator | 2 | 3.7 | -1.7 |
Artist Analysis
Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Beatles | 5 | 4.8 |
| Simon & Garfunkel | 3 | 4.33 |
| Radiohead | 3 | 4.33 |
Least Favorite Artists
Artists with 2+ albums
| Artist | Albums | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds | 3 | 1.67 |
| Public Image Ltd. | 2 | 1.5 |
5-Star Albums (20)
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Popular Reviews
John Coltrane
4/5
This was a really crisp and musical album. I'm not very well-versed in jazz, but the riffs and solos in the songs were fun and bouncy, all while blending into the chord progressions really beautifully. I hadn't listened to Coltrane before, even though I'd heard his name, so it was a really cool piece of music history to listen to him. I also took the opportunity to read about his life and career and it's so clear that he lived and breathed jazz and his passion for music was the reason his work was so groundbreaking.
4 likes
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
I really enjoyed this album. Great lyrical moments and really interesting melodies and riffs (especially for a rap album). I felt like I got a really great glimpse and understanding into Lamar's life and the challenges of growing up in an area where gang activity is so prevalent and complex to avoid. I think I'll listen to this one again multiple times and continue to discover new moments and lyrics every time.
2 likes
1-Star Albums (8)
All Ratings
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Mrs. Robinson -- classic and delightful.
America is covered by First Aid Kit and it's cool to see the origin story.
Al Green
4/5
GREAT morning vibes. This album is scratching an itch I didn't know I had.
"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" is so devastatingly sad :(
Fela Kuti
3/5
Not what my usual style is, but interesting music to have on in the background. I also appreciate the Nigerian(?) protest back story on this album.
Duran Duran
3/5
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
The album starting off with a baby crying is pretty weird, ngl. Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this album. Listening to rap that wasn't about drugs/sex/degrading women was refreshing and the lyrics were fun and clever.
Beatles
5/5
Sister Sledge
2/5
It was fine, but it felt more dated than the other albums we've heard. Also, the titular song, "We Are Family," is so overplayed at family-friendly events that it almost seems like a parody of itself at this point.
Talking Heads
3/5
It was fine. I can appreciate the musicality and vibe they were going for, but it didn't capture me. I *do* appreciate "Once In a Lifetime" though ("This is not my beautiful house... as the days go by...")
Method Man
1/5
The violent lyrics made it impossible for me to enjoy this album. Not my thing.
Billy Joel
3/5
This album has some great songs on it:
- Movin Out
- Vienna
- Only the Good Die Young
- She's Always a Woman
That said, I don't think this album was necessarily "ground-breaking" or adding anything extraordinarily new to my repertoire. It was between a 3 and a 4 but ultimately leaned towards a three.
Gary Numan
4/5
I liked this more than I thought I would. It's great music to listen to during work, and I definitely will listen to it again.
The xx
3/5
The first two songs were great, but the rest of the album kind of blended together for me.
Radiohead
5/5
Just wow. I've never really listened to Radiohead but this album was amazing. It evoked really intense emotions that aren't usually addressed in albums and every song was unique and beautiful while also maintaining cohesiveness as an album.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
Death In Vegas
4/5
the album had a fun vibe, though, especially "Dirge"
Talking Heads
3/5
Johnny Cash
2/5
Conceptually, it was really interesting that Cash wanted to perform a live album at a prison, but it meant the set list felt like it catered and pandered a lot to toxic masculinity. The number of references to violence towards women and animals made the album unenjoyable. The songs that didn't include these topics were interesting, and I enjoyed the story quality of the lyrics, but the light scattering of these songs in between violent ones wasn't enough.
I also was pretty "meh" about Cash's voice and musicality. Just not my style.
Simon & Garfunkel
4/5
Pixies
2/5
Too grunge for my taste. I read that the lyrics were about interesting topics, but the gravelly tone of the singing meant I couldn't really understand much. This just isn't a style that resonates very well for me.
Steely Dan
3/5
The Who
4/5
Fun album! Felt like a mashup of the Beatles with something more "punk rock" like the Ramones.
Muddy Waters
3/5
I enjoyed it, and it was great to listen to an album by someone whose name I've heard for years but never listened to. I don't anticipate listening to it often, which is why I ultimately went "3" instead of "4", but it was close!
Fleet Foxes
3/5
I went through a brief "Fleet Foxes" phase several years ago, but since then, all the songs on this album blend together and sound the same to me. It's an enjoyable listen, but not one I anticipate gravitating to.
David Ackles
3/5
Interesting style -- sort of a blend of Sinatra with something darker/more sinister. Several songs had really interesting moments, and I enjoyed "Oh, California!", but overall the styling and singer's voice didn't resonate with me.
Queen
4/5
Great album. I thought the two sides (white and black) were unique from each other and I loved that there were songs on each side that represented different points of view (White Queen, March of the Black Queen.) There were some riffs that felt like they were clearly inspiration for some of Queen's more popular songs later on ("Bicycle" and "Bohemian Rhapsody").
The Doors
4/5
Good album. Could definitely hear aspects that the Beatles were influenced by. I thought "psychedelic" rock wouldn't be my cup of tea, but this was fun.
Rage Against The Machine
2/5
I appreciate the lyrics and value this group brings to the music scene and I can totally imagine really enjoying them when in an intense/angry mood. I don't get angry often though, so I probably won't listen to this much.
Rush
3/5
Eh, not really my thing. Not bad though.
Haircut 100
3/5
Grateful Dead
2/5
Grateful Dead ratings will unfortunately always suffer from the fact that it was the band my family played *nonstop* when I was a kid. They're too ingratiated with memories of long boring family road trips for me to listen objectively. With that being said, it was a pleasant-sounding album, and in the moments when I forgot who I was listening to, it was fun.
Beatles
5/5
Oasis
4/5
Isaac Hayes
4/5
Bob Marley & The Wailers
2/5
Pixies
4/5
Stereo MC's
3/5
Good 90s hip hop album. I found myself bopping along to several of the songs.
3/5
Bob Dylan
3/5
The Sonics
4/5
Iggy Pop
3/5
Jane Weaver
3/5
I found that the album kept slipping into the background of whatever I was doing so I didn't thoroughly listen to it, even though I tried. It was fine, but since it didn't really capture my attention it's a 3.
Simple Minds
2/5
Public Image Ltd.
1/5
I tried to like this and understand it. I even gave it a second, more-dedicated, listen. But it just sounds like noise and unpleasant chaos to me. Didn't enjoy any of it.
Pink Floyd
5/5
I'd never really listened to this album before but holy crap. Loved every moment of it.
Snoop Dogg
2/5
"For little kids growing up in the ghettos," he said, "it's easy to get into the wrong types of things, especially gangbanging and selling drugs. I've seen what that was like, and I don't glorify it, but I don't preach. I bring it to them rather than have them go find out about it for themselves."
Nope, Snoop. You missed the mark on this 1000%
I am torn on this album because the musicality and Snoops vocal style is phenomenal. I love the tonality, playfulness, and unpredictability of his rhythms. Based on that alone this album would be a 5.
However, the lyrics the lyrics the lyrics. Ughhhh why? Misogynistic, overly sexual, and violent. I have to knock several rating points off for that.
Suzanne Vega
3/5
There were some stand out songs ("The Queen and the Soldier"), but other songs weren't my cup of tea. The first song in particular was weak ("Cracking").
Maxwell
2/5
It was alright. R&B isn't a genre that really speaks to me, so this album faced an uphill battle.
Minutemen
3/5
Frank Zappa
4/5
Great album. Interesting and unique instrumentals with lots to say. Would be a 4.5/5 if I could do half stars.
Nick Drake
4/5
Great album. It was almost a 5. I think it would have been a 5 if I had listened to this one in the right mood.
I'm a big fan of Alexi Murdoch and heard how heavily he was influenced by Nick Drake in this album. It's cool to discover the foundation to an artist I like, because now I have another one :D
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1/5
Oof. This was like listening to beat poetry from someone whose mother should have told them they couldn't sing, all lumped on top of lackluster instrumentals.
Roxy Music
3/5
Fun album! It was surprising to me that it was produced in the early 70's because it took stylistic influences from so many places. Even though I enjoyed listening to it (I gave it 4 listens), it's a 3 for me because no single song felt truly "memorable" to me. I'll probably listen to the album again though.
The Associates
3/5
"Arrogance Gave Him Up" is an absolutely great opening track. It was entirely instrumental, and it got me really excited by the album. Unfortunately, it was the only standout track for me, and the others were either middling to poor.
Solomon Burke
4/5
Fun album with a classic doowop vintage vibe. Great morning listen.
The Temptations
3/5
Def Leppard
2/5
Sorry, heavy metal fans. The combination of screamy vocals and heavy metal with a hint of blues(?) just didn't work for me.
The Stranglers
3/5
This one was really mixed for me. Lyrically, some of the songs were really aggressive towards women (i.e., "Sometimes" and "Peaches"), but there were other songs that were about interesting topics ("Goodbye Toulouse", "Down in the Sewer"). Musically, there were some really fun punk bangers, but there were a few others where things were a little slow, and the lead singer's vocals dragged down the song. I'm glad I listed to The Stranglers, but don't think they'll be a punk band I listen to much compared to some others.
Public Image Ltd.
2/5
I liked this better than Metal Box, but still not something I'll listen to again
Fats Domino
4/5
The Smashing Pumpkins
4/5
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. In general, "grunge" isn't a genre I gravitate towards, but this album was cohesive, moving, and fun. I also enjoyed the lead singer's vocals a lot in the context of the songs and the album.
Television
3/5
I enjoyed some of the musical riffs, but much of the album didn't catch me. Also not a huge fan of the lead singer's voice. Enjoyable listen overall, though.
Throbbing Gristle
4/5
I really enjoyed the experimental instrumental parts of this album. It was almost like listening to a piece of art instead of music. I didn't care much for the vocals of the lead singer, but most of the tracks used this type of vocal work sparingly or not at all. Overall, an interesting album from a genre I'm curious to learn more about.
Talking Heads
3/5
This is the third talking heads album we've had in 60 albums so I think I have talking heads fatigue. Still a fun listen though
Bob Marley & The Wailers
3/5
I liked this more than Exodus
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
I really enjoyed this album. Great lyrical moments and really interesting melodies and riffs (especially for a rap album). I felt like I got a really great glimpse and understanding into Lamar's life and the challenges of growing up in an area where gang activity is so prevalent and complex to avoid. I think I'll listen to this one again multiple times and continue to discover new moments and lyrics every time.
Neil Young
4/5
"Birds" is a forgotten favorite of mine -- I'm glad this album helped me rediscover it!
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
3/5
I played several songs from the orchestral version of Pictures At An Exhibition with my high school band, so this album was nostalgic for me. It was interesting how the album started fairly close to the original source material and then seemed to deviate farther and farther into "rock" as it progressed. Also "Nutrocker" is an absolute Christmas bop and I think it should be on way more Christmas playlists.
Tangerine Dream
2/5
Eh, the only times this album struck me was when it was very discordant and anxiety-inducing. Probably won't listen to this one again.
Jethro Tull
3/5
It was fine. Fun at times, and now I finally know what my step dad was talking about with Jethro Tull's flute when I was a flute player in high school.
Kraftwerk
3/5
I had mixed feelings about this album. On the one hand, I appreciate the ground-breaking work they did for the electronica genre, but on the other hand I think that because they were basically the father of the genre it almost feels like a parody of itself at this point because it's so influential and is indirectly referenced through so much of modern content. I really enjoyed the instrumental/musical side of this album, but where it lost me was the lyrics because they felt really dated. With themes like "metropolis" "neon" and "robots" that were probably really futuristic at the time, now they are just commonplace and what we view as people from the 60's and 70's as thinking the future would be like.
Michael Jackson
3/5
A fun pop album, with so many enduringly well-known songs. Sometimes the album felt a little too earnest, dramatic, and cheesy, especially with songs like "Man in the Mirror". It's still damn catchy and I was 100% bopping along to it, but probably not an album I'll gravitate towards very often.
Les Rythmes Digitales
2/5
Eh, it was fine I guess. Nothing really stood out to me, good or bad. We've also had a recent onslaught of electronica albums so it's possible I have electronica fatigue and/or this was just a weaker album compared to others we've heard recently.
Motörhead
2/5
It was loud and I really didn't care for the main singer's (yeller's?) vocals. Instrumentals could have been interesting at times, but they got lost in the cacophony of the rest of the noise.
Michael Jackson
3/5
It was fine. I enjoyed the vibe of this album a little more than "Bad" on the whole. This album had a way stronger disco influence to it, which made it feel more dated than most of Jackson's biggest hits from other albums.
Public Enemy
4/5
Really enjoyed this one. There's a balance of very insightful and pointed comments on race and politics while still having an album that can invoke both anger and amusement in the listener. I was also really impressed by the sound. 90's hip hop was still discovering and exploring the genre and, therefore, sometimes fell victim to redundant beats, but this album was musically interesting and ahead of its time.
Billie Holiday
3/5
Classic voice and era. Nice listen to relax and have good vibes.
Blood, Sweat & Tears
4/5
I really liked the musicality of this one. The jazz + rock was a really interesting vibe. It was also intriguing to read about the band and why I've never heard of them before. This album won a grammy for "Album of the Year" over albums like Abbey Road, but the band faced huge backlash after doing a tour behind the Iron Curtain. Glad that the 1001 project helped me discover them!
Marvin Gaye
3/5
Great morning listen. Gaye has a phenomenally smooth voice that is a delight to listen to. None of the songs really captured me individually, but the overall vibe was nice, which is why this album is a 3 instead of a 4 for me. I definitely see myself listening to this on a lazy Sunday morning with a cup of coffee.
Buena Vista Social Club
4/5
Fun music that's a joy to listen to. Lots of traditional latin beats and riffs.
James Brown
3/5
Morrissey
4/5
"Your Arsenal reflected Morrissey's lament for what he regarded as the decline of British culture in the face of increasing Americanisation.[127] He told one interviewer that "everything is informed by American culture—everyone under fifty speaks American—and that's sad. We once had a strong identity and now that's gone completely"."
Sorry, Morrissey, but this American loves the album.
I also just get an indescribable amount of joy from the song title "We Hate When Our Friends Become Successful" because it taps into the pettiness of humans so well.
Faith No More
2/5
It was alright. Probably closer to a 2.5 for me because it was on the "louder"/metal side of rock, which isn't usually my thing. I didn't mind the lead vocalists voice as much as other metal albums though and some of the songs were fun and catchy.
Willie Nelson
4/5
This album was like a cozy, comforting hug of calmness and familiarity. Like when you're a kid and you're crying because of a scraped knee and then your mom kisses it to make it better.
The Kinks
4/5
Loved the fun, playful lyrics. Similar in style to the Beatles, but different enough to have their own unique take on things. Will definitely listen to more Kinks in the future.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Not a genre I usually enjoy (in fact I dragged my feet on listening to this one because I wasn't ready for metal), but it was actually a fun album. Great musicality and lots of instrumental talent. I probably won't listen to this one again because of the genre, which is why it's a 3, but on musicality alone it would be a 4.
My Bloody Valentine
3/5
The opening of this album made me nervous that I would hate it, but then the album chilled out and grew into itself. Decent chill vibe to listen to during work.
The Beta Band
4/5
This album reminded me of another band I like, "Django Django". The vocals are distinct, and the subtly electronic melodies are soothing and ethereal.
Eels
4/5
Hated the album cover, loved the album itself. I've not generally enjoyed 90's rock, but this was a really good blend of surfish rock with a slight hint of grunge that resonated really well for me. Also, big shoutout to Shrek.
The Cars
4/5
This was such a decade-bending album. Some tracks and bars felt like the 60's, some the 70's, and some the 80's. It felt very much like this album influenced a lot of the 80's key defining stylistic features. Since I'm not usually the biggest fan of the 80's, that was almost a knock against this album in a "So it's THEIR fault!" mentality, but even so I can't deny that this album was great. Every song was a bop and had a lot to say.
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
3/5
This was a solid 3 for me. I could tell it was really influential and popular for its time, but is probably too dated for me to enjoy super regularly. I did like hearing "Not Fade Away", which I've previously only heard done by the Grateful Dead.
Black Sabbath
3/5
I thought "Paranoid" was a stronger album, but this one was still interesting. There is very clearly some musical talent in the riffs, which was the standout of the album for me.
The Triffids
2/5
This album wasn't good. From the very first song, my main impression was of over-the-top cheese. As songs ticked by, I formed a theory that every song on this album has one of three uses:
1. Drunken karaoke where some rando hit the wrong song button.
2. 90's movie montage background music (think of the cliche "running to the airport to try and confess your love")
3. Horribly cheesy 80's music videos in black and white with the singer appearing to be really angsty, looking off in the distance.
To make it 100% obvious, none of these scenarios are things that a musical group should aspire to.
Boards of Canada
3/5
Some of the songs were interesting, but others made me a bit uncomfortable. Listening to 3 minutes of a little kid slowly saying "I... love... you.." was particularly unsettling.
All in all, a decent album to listen to while working, but not anything overly special for me.
Moby
3/5
I thought this album would be a "4" after I started listening to it the first time. I listened to the first half in my car and it had a lot of great emotion behind the songs. However I didn't feel as strongly about the second half. When I listened to the album again, it was much less evocative for me, so it bumped down to a "3"
U2
3/5
I liked this one a lot more than "Joshua Tree", but ultimately don't see myself listening to it much.
Foo Fighters
4/5
Maybe this project is making me a convert to the 90's, because this is one of several 90's albums recently that I've really enjoyed. The songs were fun and felt relatable.
Willie Nelson
3/5
A palatable county album. I love Nelson's voice for this type of music, so that was the standout for me.
Sepultura
1/5
Whewwww boy. This was a big ole' "NOPE."
It was loud. It was long.
When the album started and my ear drums started bleeding, I thought to myself "Am I enjoying this? No. Would I regret turning this album off and not finishing it? No." But then my lovely husband GUILTED me into finishing it, saying, "I don't think you can rate the album if you don't finish it. ItS nOt In ThE SpIrT oF ThE PrOjeCttttt."
Fine, Jeff. I finished the album. I'll bill you for the permanent ear damage I incurred.
*As an aside, if I were to say anything nice about this album, I at least did appreciate the Brazilian/Latin instrumentation and beats that were sprinkled from time to time. They were fun and broke up the monotony of screaming chaos.
The Who
3/5
Great sound quality for a live album. I think I prefer the earlier Who work to this, but the "My Generation" medley was a standout for me.
The Black Keys
5/5
I had a big Black Keys phase when I lived in Mississippi, but I was more into El Camino at the time (since it had recently been released). Now that I have revisited the band, Brothers is SUCH a tight, cohesive, and phenomenal album. Every song is filled with feeling, danceability, and soul, but also manages to keep each song feeling unique and valuable to the album as a whole.
CHIC
3/5
I was going to rate this one a "2", but then we closed on a house, drank champagne, and danced like madmen around the living room to this album. The danceability bumped it up to a well-deserved 3.
Before the living room dance party, I thought this was the best disco album we've had to date. The songs are interesting, and the vocals are delightful. Honestly, it's just the genre that doesn't work well for me overall because the strong 2+4 drum beats are persistent and glaring in every song.
Nine Inch Nails
3/5
This album grew on me the further into it I got. After the first song I thought for sure that it would be a 2 star album for me, but the song variation and themes worked really well. Not every song is my cup of tea, but there are some fun ones.
The Coral
4/5
This was a fun and funky album. Every song felt like it was in a completely different style/genre (beach, reggae, polka, ska, rock?!!), but the overarching album still worked because the singer's voice remained constant, and many of the songs had a sort of funk, sinister New Orleans vibe.
Judas Priest
2/5
This album wasn't good. It felt really cheesy and overly dramatic. I didn't hate it enough to give it a "1", but it was a close call.
Bob Dylan
4/5
Blowin' in the Wind
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
Don't Think Twice It's All Right
Oxford Town
It's a great album with so many standout songs. I'm not the biggest harmonica fan, but Dylan's songwriting more than makes up for it.
Roni Size
2/5
Look, it wasn't *bad*, but it was LONG af. 20 songs at 6 minutes a piece that all sounded the same. Like, I genuinely couldn't tell you one song that stood out from the rest, so much so that I imagine this was a 2-hour glimpse into what purgatory must be like.
Oh, and to top it all off, the album cover was giving me serious "90's business suite software that you need a 300 page manual to start using" vibes.
The one "plus" of this album was that it wasn't terrible to listen to as work background music, sort of like lofi. Maybe if there was a Lofi Girl equivalent for Drums and Bass I'd find this album more endearing.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
This album may have been a 3, except it was so dang long. This was much better than the other Nick Cave album we had, and his vocals on this one weren't terrible, but the songs all felt a little whiny+Pearl Jammy to me.
New Order
3/5
This album felt disjointed. Some songs were slow 80s love ballads, and others were dance house electronica ragers, and to me, the genre jump from song to song made for an album that didn't feel cohesive.
Some of the music was fun, and I enjoyed listening to several of the songs for pump-up jams.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
3/5
Very "country" rock. It was fine, but nothing felt too special, apart from the birth of the World's Longest Song (or at least how it feels), "Freebird."
The Stone Roses
5/5
A little bit of the Smiths, a little bit of Fleet Foxes, and a lot of wonderful chill guitar. When I saw that this was a British rock album from 1989 I was bracing myself for a lot of 80's synth, but was spectacularly and pleasantly surprised by what I got instead. Every song felt fresh and unique, and just as I felt like the vibe was getting stale, the next song would come in with a completely refreshed beat and melody that rejuvenated the listening experience.
I don't often give out 5s, but I'm contemplating it with this one, mostly because of how enjoyable it was *plus* the pleasant surprise. I feel like this album was extraordinarily influential for later bands.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
3/5
The blend of blues and southern rock was fun and the lead vocalist's sound worked really well for this genre. Many fun songs that I've heard before, but overall not something that I anticipate listening to much.
Pavement
4/5
This one was tricky for me to rate. I enjoyed listening to it, but not quite as much as albums by Smashing Pumpkins and Oasis, which this album reminded me of a little bit. When trying to decide whether to rate an album a 3 or a 4, I ask myself "Will I listen to this again?" and if the answer is yes, I rate it a 4. I can see myself listening to this album again, even if not very often, so that's why I ultimately went with a 4.
Blur
4/5
T. Rex
3/5
It was a fun album at times, but didn't feel substantive. At times it felt like it was trying too hard to come off as amazing and glamorous, which ended up sounding overly dramatic or like it was too much. The song that's stood the test of time ("Bang a Gong (Get It On)") was fun, if silly. Overall, it wasn't a *bad* album, per se, but if I find myself wanting to listen to fun glam rock I've got better options.
David Bowie
3/5
I listened to this album several times hoping that I'd uncover something amazing. After all, it's David-effing-BOWIE. And yet... I wasn't amazed.
This album felt quieter than other Bowie songs I've heard in the past—almost subtle, in a way (which is *not* a word I'd typically associate with Bowie). I got the most enjoyment from this album when I could fully listen to the ways the musical layers intertwined. There was a chaotic beauty in the playful background piano with the more prominent melodies, which hinted at the artist's powerhouse potential. And yet...nothing (apart from "Time") stood out to me.
I really hope the David Bowie fans don't crucify me for feeling lukewarm about this album. Since it was the first Bowie album we've had in the 1001 project, I'm hopeful that another of his albums will strike me more.
Elvis Presley
3/5
It was really interesting to hear an Elvis album and not just one of his most popular hits randomly in a movie. This album was a blend of blues, country, and hints of rock and roll, and it was clear how influential his work was for future musicians. Some of the songs were really fun ("Only the Strong Survive" was the standout for me), but overall the trends towards country and slow songs wasn't really doing it for me.
David Bowie
2/5
Reminded me a bit of Ghosteen by Nick Cave. Slow, sad, dramatic, and not something I really enjoyed listening to. Perhaps if I had more time to synthesize the lyrics I'd feel differently, but the few times through I gave it didn't resonate with me and I don't see myself listening to this again.
Tom Waits
3/5
Beck
3/5
This one was really tricky for me to rate. It was such a sad and heavy album and I didn't get a chance to listen to it with as much dedication or focus as I'd like to (plus we were moving houses when this album came up, so my music-listening headspace was all over the place). I can see this album being a 4 for me with more steeping time and under the right circumstances, but for right now it's a 3.
John Coltrane
4/5
This was a really crisp and musical album. I'm not very well-versed in jazz, but the riffs and solos in the songs were fun and bouncy, all while blending into the chord progressions really beautifully. I hadn't listened to Coltrane before, even though I'd heard his name, so it was a really cool piece of music history to listen to him. I also took the opportunity to read about his life and career and it's so clear that he lived and breathed jazz and his passion for music was the reason his work was so groundbreaking.
Supertramp
4/5
Really fun album. Catchy songs, danceable melodies, and singable choruses (Bloody Well Right is a bopppp). It was glamorous and a bit like a Broadway musical -- reminded me a bit of Queen, but in a more lighthearted and less outrageous vein.
Duke Ellington
4/5
I love big band jazz, and this was the first one we've had in the project so it was a nice treat! The clarinet and trumpet solos were amazing because it was clear the musicians were extraordinarily talented and were using the songs as an excuse to showcase their skills (and show off!).
Weather Report
3/5
This album didn't really speak to me. I didn't hate any of it, but none of the songs stood out. We've had several jazz albums in the past few weeks and this one felt the least original and inspired of the lot. I'm sure the musicians are talented, but I wasn't wowed by any of the solos.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
Great album. It was a nearly perfect blend of folk, rock, country, and energy that I didn't know existed. I'd never really listened to Led Zeppelin before, mostly because I assumed they were more heavy metal/screamo. I had heard "Going to California" before and loved the song, but knew it wasn't really reflective of the band as a whole, but now that I've listened to an album all the way through it actually hits a lot of the same enjoyments for me.
My favorite song from this album was definitely "That's the Way," which in my mind is a song about a summer romance between closeted teens and it's so sweet and sad.
The album was closer to a 4.5 for me, but there were a few banjo riffs that took me out of the album's immersion a bit, but overall I was incredibly pleasantly surprised by Led Zeppelin.
R.E.M.
3/5
This album was fine. Nothing really stood out to me. To their credit, R.E.M.'s sound style is very distinctive and it's clear how much it influenced music for the decade after they came on the scene.
Radiohead
4/5
The Flying Burrito Brothers
2/5
The Prodigy
2/5
I knew it was going to be a hard sell when the first song was called "Smack My Bitch Up" and that was basically the only lyric. The band (group?) made the choice to have that as the opening to their album, and it's not a choice I'm a fan of. The songs were fine -- big dance electro sounds that I can see playing at a rave or something, but overall, the initial statement of the album really tainted it for me.
Paul McCartney and Wings
4/5
Nice album. It was very Paul, meaning that it was pleasant and pretty. Maybe not mind-blowing or thought-provoking, but a good sound.
k.d. lang
3/5
Nice voice and some of the cabaret-styled songs were interesting and refreshing, but overall kind of one-note for me.
GZA
3/5
I thought GZA was such a poetical lyricist. He's talking about dark stuff, but because it's creative and more about the emotion and intent than the graphic imagery it works way better than Tical, which is the only other WTC member's album we've had so far in this project.
At the end of the day, the beats and subject matter weren't super captivating to me, but I'd consider giving this album another listen from time to time to catch clever lyrics I missed this time around.
Madonna
3/5
Björk
3/5
4/5
What an iconic 90's sound. It was very clear that some of my favorite current female powerhouses (Fiona Apple, Florence & the Machine) get inspiration from PJ. This album was tricky for me to rate because I think if I listened to it a lot more I'd get into it, but for a casual listen the strong 90's influence made it closer to a 3.5 rating for me since it's not my favorite sound.
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3/5
It was fine. The lead vocalist's voice felt a little shakey (not in a good way) at times.
Beatles
4/5
A Beatles album I hadn't heard before, so it was fun to listen to a new one. It's a 4/5 as far as Beatles go for me, mostly because I don't have as strong of a nostalgia factor for it compared to the White Album, Abbey Road, and Sergeant Peppers. Also not a big fan of "Run for Your Life" because it's so violent. "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is similarly violent, but it's so over the top outrageous (and catchy) that it sort of gets a pass from me, where as "Run for Your Life" is about a very really problem of violence against women. Maybe it's a wet blanket opinion, but especially since it closed the album it didn't leave a nice taste in my mouth. Maybe I'd feel more similarly about Maxwell's Silver Hammer if it was the closer too, but we'll never know.
Stevie Wonder
4/5
This album has a lot of different flairs, but Wonder shines brightest with the funk songs. His voice is smooth as freaking *butter*, and combined with the funky synths you can't help but bop along to the upbeat tracks. I'm looking forward to "The Key of Life", which undoubtedly is in this project, and I'm pretty sure that album will outperform this one ever so slightly.
On a side note, it's a very interesting time to hear "He's Misstra Know It All" in American politics:
"The song is essentially a long description of a know-it-all confidence trickster character who is a "man with a plan", who has a slick answer to all his critics and who has "a counterfeit dollar in his hand."" (from the song's Wikipedia page)
Queen
4/5
I didn't love this album as much as Queen II because it didn't feel as theatrical and whimsical overall. That being said, "Bohemian Rhapsody" really can't be argued with for star quality.
Pretenders
5/5
I really liked this album! Is it cringe to say that it rocked really hard? If it is, I don't care because this album rocked! The vocalist was superb, the lyrics were great, and the sort of fuzzy and unrefined sound quality of the instrumentals fit the vibe SO well. This is the punk rock style I've been waiting for in this project and I will definitely listen to this album a lot.
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
2/5
This one was really tough to rate. Did I enjoy listening to it? Not really. But is the story behind it fascinating? 100%
Here's a snippet from the Wikipedia article:
"Described as "one of the most harrowing documents of pain and confusion ever made", the album was recorded after Spence had spent six months in Bellevue Hospital. Spence had been committed to Bellevue following a delusion-driven attempt to attack Moby Grape bandmates Don Stevenson and Jerry Miller with a fire axe.
"At the time of Spence's release from hospital, he had written a number of songs that he wanted to record. Producer David Rubinson suggested that Spence record at the Columbia studios in Nashville, where there was a particularly patient recording engineer, Mike Figlio. Rubinson instructed Figlio to keep the tapes running at all times, to record everything that Spence did. The majority of the tracks were recorded using a three-track recorder...
According to Spence, the Nashville sessions were intended by him to only be a demo, which he gave to Rubinson with the intent that the songs would be fleshed out with full production for the actual album. Instead, Rubinson had the demo recordings released by Columbia."
------
I feel like that story aligns so well with the tone of the album. It was unpolished and raw, and some of the lyrics were unhinged or glimpses into a man with deep regret and confusion in a state of total vulnerability. I'm glad I listened to it and have this in my music history knowledge, but don't think I'll listen to it again.
Kate Bush
3/5
It was fine. None of the songs really stood out to me.
Richard Hawley
3/5
Jefferson Airplane
4/5
This is probably closer to a 3.5 for me, because the album felt a little dated at times with the sound and style. The 60s were great musically, but when it's overly noticeable it detracts from the songs. Of course, "White Rabbit" is a classic, and overall I'll probably listen to this album again but won't reach for it often.
Coldplay
5/5
High School Me was OBSESSED with this album, in particular "The Scientist". I vividly remember playing the Youtube music video for The Scientist on endless repeat (with manual "Replay" clicks every. single. time.) as I did homework, wrote in my journal, and made art.
I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this album now that I'm in less-angsty times in my life, but the second half of this album absolutely kills. The standouts are "Green Eyes" and "Amsterdam" (which used to be one of my all time faves -- turns out it still is). Honorable Mention to "Warning Sign". The first half of this album isn't necessarily my favorite, but it makes the second half hit much harder so at the end of the day, I think the album as a whole works wonderfully.
This is probably a 4 for me, but gets a +1 for the Nostalgia Factor
Marty Robbins
2/5
This album was better than I was bracing myself for it to be. I thought it would be very hokey patriotic country nonsense. Instead, it was sometimes interesting and often catchy. I can definitely see how it was culturally significant. That being said, will I listen to this one again? Probably not, because it's not a genre style that really does much for me.
Super Furry Animals
4/5
This album was all over the place stylistically, but really enjoyable to listen to. I'm not sure how much staying power this one will have, but my knee-jerk reaction was one of enjoyment, so that's how I ended up rating this one.
Sebadoh
3/5
Nick Drake
3/5
Simon & Garfunkel
5/5
Youssou N'Dour
3/5
Nightmares On Wax
2/5
Meh, it was alright. Some of the songs felt like elevator music, and the songs that didn't weren't very memorable. I think this genre has come a long way since this album, but this one wasn't one I enjoyed.
Talvin Singh
4/5
I really enjoyed this album for how eclectic it was. I loved the story behind it and imagining where in the world each song was recorded as it came on. The combination of Western instruments like strings and the orchestral flute paired and juxtaposed with Indian instruments was beautiful and refreshing.
4/5
Fun album with lots of iconic songs.
Massive Attack
2/5
From the first song, I was fairly certain this wasn't going to be a winner for me. I didn't care for the main vocalist's voice, the synthetic drum beats felt glaring and tired, and none of the lyrics really spoke to me (tbf, I was listening to this during work though so I didn't listen very intently). There were a few songs that I caught myself bopping along to as I worked though, so there's something inherently catchy about their beats at times. The rap flows were also a little reminiscent to ATCQ, with smooth playful ups and downs, so there's another small redemption.
All in all, I don't see myself listening to this one again, but I appreciate the influence it had (and that I now know that "trip hop" is a thing).
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
4/5
Good album. Neil Young has a disadvantage in this 1001 Album Project because I think his songs take a while to fully digest. Some of the songs struck me immediately, but overall I'm giving this album the benefit of the doubt to increase in value over more listens.
The Louvin Brothers
2/5
These guys are crazy. Great voices though.
3/5
I enjoyed a lot of this album. Some of the funkier bits weren't my thing, but there was a lot of cool organ riffs. Probably won't listen to this one much again because it's not a style that resonates super strongly for me.
Radiohead
4/5
This album was good, especially the singles (Karma Police and No Surprises). I didn't feel like this album took as many risks as other Radiohead albums we've heard in this project, but it's one of their earlier works and is from 1997, so that may be a factor. The spoken word "Fitter Happier" track was pretty jarring to the album flow for me, but didn't detract too much from the overall album.
Soundgarden
2/5
Yeah, this one wasn't for me. It was too grungy and gave "40 year olds living in their parents basement but we're gonna make it big with our garage band one day" vibes.
Marilyn Manson
1/5
I hated the album cover.
I hated the singing.
I hated the lyric content, with abuse-coded gems such as "I lift you up like the sweetest angel/I'll tear you down like a whore".
And none of this is helped by the awfulness that has come to light about Manson himself and his disgusting abusive tendencies because the violent lyrics feel way too on the nose.
I'm glad I've finally heard music from a household name, but am also glad to never ever listen to it again.
Bebel Gilberto
2/5
Pretty vocals, but bossanova reminds me of elevator music. It's not terrible to listen to during work, but it's not immensely interesting.
Green Day
5/5
I've loved this album for years because it threads a very *very* fine needle of tongue-and-cheek rebellion while still feeling authentically angsty. A non-example of this, in my opinion, would be Blink-182. Although I think their music is really fun, it doesn't have the same depth and earnestness that Green Day generally does. Also, Dookie really represents the kickoff of the pop-punk wave, which I have to pay homage to because it's a genre I enjoy so much.
Finally, to highlight the contrast to other alternative/punk albums we've heard, I just love the inspiration behind one of the potentially more concerning tracks:
""Pulling Teeth", one of the album's slower songs, uses dark humor about domestic violence. The typical victim and perpetrator are reversed; the male narrator is at the mercy of his partner.[24] The band's inspiration for this song came from a pillow fight between Dirnt and his girlfriend that ended with the bassist breaking his elbow."
A pillow fight. I couldn't sum up the intense Bart Simpson energy of this album any better if I tried.
Depeche Mode
2/5
Gram Parsons
2/5
It wasn't bad, but it was pretty dang country.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
2/5
Nick Cave and violence. My two favorite things to listen to during this project.
The Who
3/5
Fun album that's playful and doesn't take itself too seriously. It didn't feel super substantive to me so I'm not sure how often I'll reach to put this album on in the future.
Marvin Gaye
4/5
One of the best albums to listen to with a cup of coffee on a weekend morning.
The War On Drugs
4/5
I think this is an album that takes longer than a day to truly appreciate, but man oh man does it have promise. Some of the musical riffs were spectacular on the first listen through, then I caught a couple more awesome ones on the second listen. Who knows what I'll find on the 10th listen?
Santana
4/5
Great sound, talented musicians. I was shocked this album is from 1970 because Santana has had such lasting power in our culture that I thought he was most popular in the 90s. Great work/driving album to put on.
4/5
This album is tricky to rate because I loved the orchestral components. The use of repetition, layering, building, and dissonance was magical and so indulgent because bands rarely spring for the whole orchestra, let alone know how to compose for it. It was the standout feature of this album for *sure*. Some of the songs and lyrics were really, reallllly cringey (I'm looking at you, "Your Dictionary"), so I was a bit let down by the lyric writing.
That being said, I enjoyed the orchestra so much that I can see myself listening to this one often (but maybe I'll just remove "Your Dictionary" from the playlist first).
Run-D.M.C.
2/5
This album is sort of like the Bible or Shakespeare -- as I listened to it I heard lines that I've heard referenced many times but never knew they had an origin. The prime example of this is "all you sucker MCs".
I appreciate the historical impact and importance of this album, but ultimately didn't feel grabbed by any specific song. I love how much it has influenced hip hop, but don't think I'll listen to this one again.
Pixies
3/5
Frank Sinatra
3/5
Sinatra has a nice voice and I enjoyed the upbeat vibe of this album. It was a fun listen, but not a very deep album -- I think every song was about love, singing to a woman with "you" or "we". Ultimately I don't seem myself listening to this one very frequently, but I did enjoy it (probably a 3.5 for me instead of a 3).
Herbie Hancock
5/5
Phenomenal instrumentals. I wish more music like this existed.
Buzzcocks
3/5
I couldn't believe this album was from the 1970s. The punk rock sound was so fresh and energetic that I thought it must be from a more contemporary time a la Greenday. This was a really fun listen, especially from a punk history perspective.
Ultimately, the songs were good but blended together a lot. Not a bad thing, but it's the main reason I don't see myself listening to this one again.
Boston
3/5
Dive bars everywhere rejoiced when this album was released because the knew, deep in their hearts, that they would have a plethora of new songs to add to their karaoke machines.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
This album has some phenomenal songs and seems like the kind of album that grows and grows on you over each listen. It was very eclectic, experimenting with different styles that leaned from glam to country to pop, but it all felt authentic and cohesive.
Elvis Costello
4/5
Fun album. I'll listen to this one again.
The B-52's
3/5
A fun one. Rock Lobster for the agesssss!
Girls Against Boys
2/5
Not really my vibe, but there were some cool musical moments (strongly disliked the vocals though).
De La Soul
4/5
Fun album, entertaining lyrics. There were a lot of similarities to a Tribe Called Quest, but the smoothness of Q-Tip's bars makes Tribe rank a little higher in my book. I'll probably listen to this album again to catch more of the lyrics though.
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
It didn't really do much for me. It would probably take more listens to really appreciate the songs because they were so dense with story telling.
The Doors
4/5
Creedence Clearwater Revival
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Super fun album to dance and cook to.
The Saints
3/5
Happy Mondays
3/5
Some of the songs were cool, but the music often noticeably felt like it was using a drum machine, which was distracting and not pleasant.
CHIC
3/5
As far as disco goes, this was alright. Lots of songs that I recognized, so the iconic status made it an interesting listen. Probably won't listen again though.
Derek & The Dominos
4/5
King Crimson
2/5
Not for me.
Kendrick Lamar
4/5
I was curious how this album would compare (or not compare) to good kid mAAd city and I was genuinely impressed. Compared to gkMc this album explored themes of grappling with fame for African Americans who find success, especially if it's at all related to a perception of gaining clout based on the historic struggles of the community. I could feel Kendrick's turmoil and exhaustion at trying to raise up instead of tear down, but was really moved by how fine a needle he was able to thread of pointing out huge social issues while giving glimmers of hope. His story-telling is unparalleled and I will definitely be giving this more listens in the future.
Fleetwood Mac
4/5
Iconic.
The Black Crowes
3/5
Eh, not really my style and none of the songs grabbed me.
Scott Walker
2/5
It felt a bit like Sinatra but without the "it" factor. Didn't really do much for me.
Bad Brains
1/5
Not really anything for me in this album. It's cool that this band was foundational to hardcore punk and heavy metal while also being Rastafarian and all-black, but unfortunately those genres don't really do it for me.
Arcade Fire
4/5
Sufjan Stevens
5/5
What a phenomenal album. I'm a sucker for dissonant, brassy syncopation and this album was indulgently full of it while somehow keeping it fresh and interesting every single time. Bravo, Sufjan.
Stevie Wonder
3/5
I preferred "Innervisions" because it had more standout songs. With the exception of "Superstition" this album didn't really capture me.
Burning Spear
3/5
Interesting protest album. A quote from the wikipedia page was interesting to me as well "...made a deal to release it internationally, but believed the original Jamaican mix of the album to be too threatening, or at least too commercially unviable, for white audiences and therefore remixed it into what they considered a more palatable form, outraging him."
Led Zeppelin
3/5
It was fun, but I wasn't blown away by this album like I was with Led Zeppelin III.
Paul McCartney
3/5
It felt experimental and unfinished, which seemed very intentional.
Siouxsie And The Banshees
3/5
Reminded me a bit of the Cranberries. I enjoyed it, but probably not a style that I will listen to much in the future.
The Sugarcubes
2/5
This was alright. Interesting that it was what led to Bjork being Bjork.
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
2/5
It was okay. Granted, I didn't listen to the lyrics super closely, but not an album I anticipate listening to again.
Frank Sinatra
3/5
This was a very enjoyable album and, as Jeff said, really good morning vibes. As I was listening I was toying with the idea of rating this one a 4, but then we somehow took a detour and ended up in Girl from Ipanema purgatory. I managed to escape, but the main riff still haunts me and reminds me of the 10+minute version of that song.
Meat Loaf
4/5
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. To be honest the name "Meatloaf" makes me picture an unhygenic obese guy with a breathy screamo voice, which I realize is not *at ALL* accurate.
The Isley Brothers
3/5
Beatles
5/5
I didn't have this album growing up but so many of the songs are already familiar to me. Collectively it's probably my favorite cluster of Beatles songs wrapped up in one bundle -- the perfect blend of danceable, singable, ennui-inducing, and joy.
The White Stripes
5/5
I missed this album when it came out because I was in the depts of being a musical theater nerd, but this album is phenomenal. Every song is interesting lyrically and musically, there are some excellent instrumental moments with exceptional talent, and the album as a whole works beautifully.
Elton John
4/5
Solid album with memorable songs and some absolute bangers. I hadn't heard an Elton John album before and was only familiar with his biggest hits, so it was cool to see how his songwriting and playing worked in other songs. The album was on the long side and I think could have been edited down (did we really need Jamaica Jerk Off?), but everything was so pleasant that I didn't mind a ton.
Elvis Presley
3/5
Dusty Springfield
4/5
I enjoyed this one. Her voice is divineeeee. And her style reminds me of maybe a blend of Amy Winehouse (especially in "The Windmills of Your Mind") and Carole King.
William Orbit
2/5
Yes
4/5
Sort of felt like a blend of Fleet Foxes, Crosby/Stills/Nash, and the Grateful Dead with a little Phish thrown in. Great instrumental work throughout. The lyrics generally didn't capture me, but this was a fun album to listen to overall.
Black Sabbath
3/5
Admittedly I didn't listen too attentively to this one, but it was alright. Nothing awful, nothing spectacular that stood out to me.
Brian Eno
3/5
It was an interesting album and I could definitely hear the Talking Heads styling -- there were a few songs that I thought were going to break into "This is not my beautiful house" a couple times.
Overall I enjoyed it, but the experimental meandering of instrumentals isn't something I think I'll seek out again.
Lauryn Hill
3/5
I really enjoyed the rapping sections of this album and thought the albums theme was interesting. I didn't care for the more R&B styled sections or Hill's singing voice though, so it's a 3
Air
2/5
Some of the electronic vibes were really good, but overall this album was hard to listen to because of the serial killer creepy vibe. The final song was a struggle to finish because the narrator was so vividly describing atrocities, which left a very unsettling feeling as the album finished. I may have rated it a three without the final track.
MGMT
4/5
Michael Kiwanuka
5/5
This is a great album. A little black keys, a little black pumas, a little funk and soul and still utterly unique. I feel like I could listen to this album for a long time and still discover new ideas and riffs. Very, very good.
The Boo Radleys
3/5
It was fine, verrrry 90s. Palatable, pleasant, fun, but also really unoriginal. Perhaps this band was very influential and thats why it all sounded vaguely familiar, but I wasnt wowed
Willie Colón & Rubén Blades
3/5
Fun latin album. I enjoyed the nod to West Side Story. Probably not an album I'll listen to again because I have Buenavista to fill this itch when it needs scratching.
Blur
3/5
Fun album with some peppy songs. Nothing really stood out to me as something I'll listen to again.
Talking Heads
3/5
It was okay. I enjoyed some of the other Talking Heads albums more
David Bowie
3/5
It was fine. This has been our 3rd Bowie album and I have yet to hear one to make me understand all the hype around him. Here's to hoping one of his other albums is in the project and knocks it out of the park.
Q-Tip
3/5
I dont think I gave this album the attention it may have deserved regarding lyrics, but Q-Tip's flow is a retro delight. Playful and speedy lines that were an immediate throwback to A Tribe Called Quest, but the lyrics didn't tickle me as much as ATCQ on a first listen.
A Tribe Called Quest
4/5
Delightful lyrics and satisfying social commentary. I wish more hip hop was like this
Ute Lemper
2/5
I found this album very unpalatable. I couldn't follow any of the melodies and a lot of the songs felt dissonant, which didn't make for very satisfying or enjoyable music for me. Nick Cave collaborated on this album and it had some of the same hallmarks I associate with the albums of his that we've had in this project -- rambling and monotonous. People say his stuff is very interesting musically and I just don't get it. Ute has a great voice though.
OutKast
3/5
There were some fun and silly songs and I generally liked the musicality. Some of the songs are very familiar to me because of how big OutKast was when I was in high school (Ms. Jackson). Overall I don't anticipate myself listening to this one again very often because it *is* a very long album and some of the lyrics (esp. about women) aren't my cup of tea, but I do like that I listened to the album.
King Crimson
3/5
It was fine. Some of the songs felt like they took themselves too seriously, which dragged down the bits of the album that were fun.
Steely Dan
2/5
I thought their album "Pretzel Logic" was quite good, so when I heard Aja I started to question my sanity. Had my music palette drastically altered or matured in a few short months? Had my eardrums suddenly ruptured? How could I like Pretzel Logic so much from a band that sounded like elevator music synths and cheesy middle schooler lyrics? I can't give any examples of the cringe lyrics because that would require listening to this album again, which I thoroughly refuse to do, but just know that my eyes rolled all the way back in my head for some of their gems.
And then there were brief moments where there were vocal harmonies similar to CSNY or Fleet Foxes that were like the eye of a hurricane and I realized that Pretzel Logic was all that -- the only good bits from this band, all condensed into one album -- where Aja was a dumpster fire.
The Cult
3/5
It was more palatable than a lot of rock from this subgenre, but overall not something that captivated me.
Mercury Rev
3/5
Ya know, I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I didn't expect the orchestral moments to be so prominent and I thoroughly enjoyed the weird whimsical vibe many of the songs had. Is this the kind of album I'll reach for again? Probably not. But am I glad I listened to it? Yup!
Rush
3/5
it was fine in a Rush kind of way. I get why people love the drums from Rush so much because they were really the standout instrument talent-wise. No idea why the first song was 20 minutes and the others were 3-4 minutes because it made the album feel unbalanced.
Thin Lizzy
3/5
It was fine
The Chemical Brothers
2/5
Very repetitive electronica. There was one song in particular where it felt like it was stuck on an endless loop of 2 bars.
Goldfrapp
3/5
Bob Dylan
4/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
3/5
I enjoyed it, but don't see myself listening to it often. It sort of leaned on the side of indie pop that I don't gravitate to.
Carole King
5/5
Perfect
Spiritualized
3/5
I really enjoyed the vibe of this band, but as an album it had some poor judgement calls. It was about 30 minutes too long without enough variation. If it had ended several songs sooner, I was ready to give it a 4.
Various Artists
4/5
This is a tricky one to rate because on the one hand every song on the album has gone on to become synonymous with Christmas music. I'd heard just about every song from the album before on the radio, in movies, and/or casually around town during the holidays. It manages to capture the fun of Christmas music without being cloying or too cheesy. On the other hand, my personal guideline for this project is to save albums to my music account if I rate them a 4 or 5, but I don't want to save this album because... I don't want Christmas music to randomly pop up on shuffle.
The Rolling Stones
3/5
It started out with some promising songs, but then corrected to the Rolling Stone Mean.
Otis Redding
4/5
Cozy, soulful, and full of great bops.
AC/DC
3/5
Leonard Cohen
3/5
I saw the glimmers of potential of why Leonard Cohen is such a touted artist, but I don't think this album was his finest work. Hopefully there's another album of his in this project to showcase his songs.
The KLF
2/5
Cringe.
It reminded me of a German Electronica musical improv duo I saw once. The duo was amazing, because they were characters in on the joke. This album? Not so much.
The Electric Prunes
4/5
A really fun album that felt a little like a blend between Beatles and Doors.
The Waterboys
4/5
It was an interesting combination of rock and traditional Irish instrumentals and riffs. It reminded me a little of U2, but better. I really enjoyed this album, but also don't see myself listening to it much in the future.
The Cure
3/5
Meh. A very long album.
Bill Evans Trio
2/5
This is the kind of jazz I don't understand. I'm sure it's great by jazz standards but it didn't do anything for me.
David Bowie
3/5
This is our third or fourth Bowie album and it's been a very strange introduction to his as an artist. This album was enjoyable, but I also don't see myself listening to it a ton. "Golden Years" is a standout for me but otherwise the songs didn't strike me much. I'm still holding out hope for Bowie to get a 4 or 5 for one of his most popular albums.
Pere Ubu
2/5
There were interesting moments of this album that felt exciting and like it would be in line with punk bands I've enjoyed, like the Pretenders or maaaaybe Ramones, but the glimmers of moments didn't hold up to the more frequent unstructured chaos.
Devendra Banhart
4/5
A super solid folk album with great guitar riffs and haunting chord progressions. I hadn't heard Banhart before, but it felt a bit like a blend of Brighteyes, Nick Drake, and maybe Andrew Bird without the whistling.
Muddy Waters
4/5
Very enjoyable blues album, probably one of the favorites of the project so far.
Neil Young
4/5
As with most of Young's stuff I feel like I need to give it more time to sink in than this project really allows for, so I'm giving this a 4 based on the vibe and the hope that it'll be an album that grows on me.
Air
3/5
If James Bond met Daft Punk for a French electronica adventure, this would be the resulting album. Unique and interesting vibe.
Justice
3/5
I really liked the vibe of the first half of the album. It felt a bit like Daft Punk but a bit more raw. I didn't enjoy the second half as much because the singing didn't feel necessary to me. The song "Stress" really made me feel anxious, which was probably the intention but isn't a feeling I want to have when listening to music. I'm saving the album to my saved album list because I do think I'll listen to it again while working or playing chess, but I'll probably skip "Stress" in the future.
Joan Armatrading
3/5
Good voice, nice songs, but nothing really amazed me
Jurassic 5
3/5
The Strokes
4/5
Fun album with iconic songs. The fact that this is their first album and is still so well known is a testament to how great their style is.
Echo And The Bunnymen
3/5
It was fine
Everything But The Girl
2/5
This album is the exact sound of walking around a fancy department store at the mall in the early 2000's. Now the question is, do I *want* to listen to music that sounds like an early 2000's store? Nope. Not really.
Kacey Musgraves
3/5
I was blown away by this album the first and second times I listened. I thought to myself, "Finally! Country music that is good!" But then I listened to the album more closely a third time and realized that most of the lyrics are pretty basic (occasionally bordering on cloying or cringe) and the instrumentation is rudimentary and almost sounds like a drum machine at times. I think my initial amazement is 100% on Musgraves voice, which I still think is beautifully crisp and ethereal. I can see why Lady A, which she sang for before releasing solo work, was a great fit for her because it allowed her vocals to shine while leaving instrumentation and lyrics to others.
ZZ Top
3/5
Fun blues/rock album with gravelly vocals. The standout track was definitely "La Grange" for earwormability.
Green Day
4/5
An extraordinarily solid album and also my introduction to Green Day. I saw "American Idiot" when it was premiering at Berkeley Rep and LOVED it, so this album has a fond place in my heart. That being said, I still think that "Dookie" is their best album.
The Young Gods
1/5
My favorite part of the album was the fact that I understood what all the French song titles meant (thanks, Duolingo!). My least favorite part was literally everything else. It was messy and grungy, but not in an enjoyable way. The songs were stressful to listen to and aggressive, chaotic, and felt violent. Not something I enjoyed any of.
Arctic Monkeys
4/5
Fun album with high energy
Joanna Newsom
3/5
This album is a tricky one to rate because I think that in order to enjoy it I'd have to give it several dedicated listens. Newsom's voice reminds me a bit of a blend of Bjork and Regina Spektor. I enjoyed this album, but ultimately had to go with a 3 because I don't anticipate myself listening to this one much.
Portishead
2/5
Reading about the album and how it is considered the spearheading of "trip hop" is kind of cool. Also as someone who enjoys lofi from time to time, I can see why people like this album. However this one just wasn't for me.
Michael Jackson
4/5
One album with all of Jackson's biggest hits definitely deserves a 4 for how iconic it is, despite not being an album I anticipate myself listening much to.
Lorde
4/5
This album is the deeper, more authentic, and relatable version of what Taylor Swift's recent work tries to do. I had to give this album several listens to ultimately decide on a rating, but on my third listen of "Liability" I realized how beautiful and thoughtful this album is. Lorde is clearly like a fine wine that is only improving since she burst onto the scene with "Royals"
Christina Aguilera
3/5
This album was on the "long" side (over an hour). As the first half played I wasn't wowed. Sure, Aguilera has a great voice, but all of the songs blended together and sounded like the same mediocre pop from my teen years (the early 2000s was an uninspired time for pop, IMO). The second half of the album, however, was surprisingly fun. I loved the vintage tones and vaudeville vibes. It was almost as if the first half of the album was made to appease the masses and the second half was Aguilera asserting her artistic voice. Overall I don't think I'll reach for this album much because of the bland first half, but it gets a solid "three" rating because of the second half.
Queen Latifah
3/5
This was a fun rap listen because just like the others 90's rap we've heard in this project, the lyrics were fun and playful but also making statements about the state of America and being black in the country. As an extra bonus, Latifah talks about what being a woman is like and raises others up with her lyrics. Very rah rah in a good way. Closer to 3.5 for me, but I also don't anticipate listening to this a ton.
The Pogues
2/5
Neil Young
4/5
Great Neil Young album with many of his best songs.
Led Zeppelin
4/5
A solid Zeppelin album with one of my alltime favorites ("Going to California"). Not my favorite Zeppelin album because it lacks some of the whimsy of LZIII, but still very fun
David Bowie
4/5
This was an enjoyable Bowie album - my favorite from what we've heard in the project so far. The songs were fun and interesting. I did find it note worthy that the songs often felt more aligned with disco than other Bowie work I'm familiar with.
Elliott Smith
5/5
Amazing singer songwriter with some of my all time favorite songs (Between the Bars). I could listen to this album on repeat (and did, in fact, listen to it back to back several times yesterday). I'm glad this project reminded me that Elliott Smith is amazing because I had forgotten his work.
Grateful Dead
3/5
I actually enjoyed this grateful dead album. Most of the songs were familiar to me from my childhood, but I liked that the album felt cohesive and tight without too much jamming.
Funkadelic
4/5
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4/5
I liked this album more than the other YYY album we've had. The songs were fun and dance-y but also varied and vocally interesting.
Dire Straits
3/5
I enjoyed this album, especially "Walk of Life", but there were also some songs that I didn't really like so I don't see myself listening to this one a whole lot.
Tom Tom Club
3/5
I was surprised by how many songs I recognized from this album. The songs were fun and upbeat and I wouldn't be mad if I heard a song from this album come up on a playlist.
Fred Neil
3/5
Interesting folk album, but feels a little dated for many songs.
Joni Mitchell
3/5
I love Joni Mitchell and her voice, but this album didn't feel like her strongest to me.
Stan Getz
3/5
5/5
This is probably my favorite Beatles album because it has so many absolutely iconic and wonderfully fun songs.
Don McLean
4/5
I liked this album more than I anticipated. American Pie is a fun song, but it is so cliche at this point that I was bracing for an album that was overly patriotic or masculine. What I didn't expect was "Vincent," an old favorite from high school, to surface. My senior-year english teacher played Vincent for us in class and asked us to analyze it, and none of us AP students picked up on the fact that the song was about Vincent Van Gogh.
After listening, this album is probably closer to a 3.5 than a 4 for me, because it does feel a little cloying at times, but overall I enjoyed it and ultimately wouldn't mind hearing it again.
2/5
This album felt really dramatic and angsty, but without being in on the joke. It was sort of like if Queen tried to be edgy and moody, but also less good. I dunno, I liked a few of the earlier songs on the album alright but as it kept going it felt more and more immature and monotonous.
Aretha Franklin
4/5
Aretha Franklin's voice is phenomenal. She puts so much emotion into every note that it's impossible not to root for her.
Eminem
1/5
Ugh. So much violence against women and general utter disrespect for women. Being edgy at the expense of a marginalized group isn't something that resonates for me when it comes from a straight white dude. What a waste of flow style and lyrical talent when it's used for such horrendous songs. I can't appreciate literally *any* song on this album. If you want to make a statement, Marshall, then talk about politics or injustice, not shock and awe value.
Dolly Parton
3/5
This album was delightful. Just three female icons hanging out, singing, and harmonizing. Even though it's not really my music style (country), this album brought me joy.
Dirty Projectors
5/5
I really enjoyed this album. I know Jeff has been a huge fan of this artist for years but they were never really on my radar. I love that they have a similar musical complexity to Vampire Weekend but without the preppy New England vibe. The songs all felt really vibrant and different from one another without sacrificing cohesiveness.
PJ Harvey
3/5
It was fine. I didn't enjoy it as much as the other PJ Harvey album we had in this project.
Paul Simon
4/5
I like the music in this one and the collaboration was really interesting and unique
ZZ Top
2/5
This was the sound of every dive bar in America. It was fine, but a little "biker gang" for me
Bruce Springsteen
3/5
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
This was a fun album. If more funk and disco were like this, I'd like the whole genre more.
Johnny Cash
3/5
After the first song I was actually excited for this album. I really enjoyed the first song ("The Man Comes Around") and felt like I finally understood what people see in Cash as an artist. However, the rest of the album didn't work very well for me. At best the songs were fine, at their worst they sounded very much like an old man meandering and also flirting with being out of tune. As an aside, Bridge Over Troubled Water as sung by Simon and Garfunkel is such a vocal powerhouse that Cash's version was pretty offputting. I understand he was going for a different style, but it didn't work for me.
For "old dudes doing comforting covers of songs" my vote still goes to Willie Nelson's Stardust. That being said, this was probably the Cash album I've enjoyed most of his from this project.
George Harrison
4/5
John Lennon
4/5
Oh Yoko!!
Morrissey
4/5
Oh Yoko!!
PJ Harvey
3/5
Coldplay
3/5
It felt a little too angsty for me. Not enough uppers to balance out the fEeLiNgSsS.
The Police
2/5
Meh. Didn't care for the reggae vibes and the lead vocalist's voice just sounded strained to me. I can see how his style works in some of the Police's most popular songs, but for this album as a whole it didn't work for me
Common
3/5
It was alright. I enjoyed some of the musical moments, like the opening of the first song.
Dagmar Krause
2/5
This is what I imagine people who don't like musicals think musicals sound like. Granted I didn't have a chance to listen to the lyrics very closely, but what I gathered from the instrumentation wasn't my cup of tea.
Deee-Lite
2/5
"Groove is in the Heart" is a romcom-movie-montage legend, but every song sounded like a vaguely less-good version of it. Overall this album seemed iconic for the time and also has strong continued presence in gay culture, but isn't something I'm into.
Sonic Youth
3/5
Funkadelic
5/5
The best psychedelic funk I've ever heard. Every song is 10/10
Sam Cooke
3/5
Sam Cooke is great, but the audio quality on this one made it challenging to fully enjoy.
G. Love & Special Sauce
4/5
I enjoyed the vibe of this. Sort of Gorillas, Cake, funky rap. Very unique, interesting, and well done overall.
Dead Kennedys
3/5
At first I was excited because it sounded like the Ramones but a little more raw, but as the album went on I got over it and the edginess pretty quickly
Janis Joplin
4/5
I loved this album. I wasn't super familiar with many of Joplins songs, and holy moly this album was beautiful and soulful and an excellent vibe. Closer to a 4.5 for me
Dennis Wilson
3/5
Curtis Mayfield
4/5
Smooth soulful with a dash of sexy. Delightful vocals all the way through, and very good morning vibes.
Buffalo Springfield
3/5
Little Richard
4/5
High energy fun. More like a 3.5 because I don't anticipate listening to this a ton, but it's still very delightful.
Pink Floyd
4/5
The Incredible String Band
2/5
This felt kind of rambling and meandering to me. Psychedelic folk seems like something I'd be into, but this one didn't work well for me.
The Divine Comedy
2/5
This one wasn't very pleasant. I didn't care for the singer's voice at all, and the instrumentation and melodies felt disjointed the majority of the time. There were a few glimmers of interest, but overall I didn't enjoy this very much.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
4/5